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German telecom provider Deutsche Telekom (DT) announced plans to retire support for 2G networks on June 30, 2028, clearing the way for the frequency range around 900 MHz to be used for future 4G and 5G networks. The company ended support for 3G networks in 2021. DT has offered 4G LTE for over a decade and 5G since 2019.
Geographic areas that have so far only been covered by 2G, but not by 4G, will receive 4G/5G coverage as part of the ongoing network modernization even before the 2G network is switched off. In addition to the old 2G frequencies, other frequency ranges will also be used, expanding data transmission capabilities.
Most German customers are already using DT’s 4G and 5G networks and will automatically benefit from the improvements brought about by the transition. Devices not capable of supporting 4G LTE, however, including those used in legacy manufacturing installations, will no longer be usable after the changeover and must be replaced by modern devices.
What does the 2G shutdown Mean for the Internet of Things and M2M?
The Internet of Things (IoT) connects devices via the Internet, while M2M stands for machine-to-machine communications and refers to the exchange of data between devices. For instance, it can quickly detect malfunctions in remote technical facilities like wind turbines or signal the arrival time of the next bus at a bus stop.
In the past, these devices mostly used the 2G and 3G wireless standards. Since the shutdown of the 3G network a few years ago, providers have increasingly relied on modern technologies such as 4G, 5G, Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), and LTE-M. To ensure that all devices continue to work as desired after the 2G switch-off, providers and users should act now and prepare to replace any remaining old radio modules with devices that support these more modern standards.
Find out more about the market for industrial cellular routers.